We are a group of imperfect people pursuing a perfect God. We exist to help each other find and follow Christ. These are some things we want to be true of our group:

We create a safe and honest environment, staying transparent and authentic.

We keep it inside the circle. Confidentiality is necessary for a healthy group.

We look together to the Bible for help and guidance, and keep out our own politics, sales, or agendas.

We do not try to fix each other, preach sermons, or give unsolicited advice. We instead encourage, listen to, and celebrate each other.

We handle conflict between us quickly and honestly by going to the person, owning our part, and practicing forgiveness.

We respect each others’ time by starting and ending when we say we will.

We trust that it is God’s role to change people, not ours.

We believe that in Jesus Christ, there is hope for everyone.

We’re on the last week of the BYOG series and we’re looking at how we have invented or re-invented versions of God. But for us to see God as He says He is, we’re asking tough questions: Can we enjoy God or is he a buzzkill? Can smart people really believe in God? Can God handle our questions? Can we control God or is He too big for that?

This week, we’re checking out if God will be there when we need Roadside Assistance.

BREAKING THE ICE

Do you have any phobias? (i.e. Fear of heights? Spiders? Small spaces?)

CONNECT

Our StoryGod sent His Son to wade through the muck of our humanity and set us free.

Do you see God as a rescuer? Have you always seen God this way?

Our Relationship with JesusGod is here for us and calls us to “Never stop praying” in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NLV).

What does this passage mean to you? Do you have trouble connecting with God in the good times? Do you find yourself only going to him in the bad times?

APPLY

Pit. Pride. Rescue.God doesn’t run out of grace. Our God is willing and able to rescue us when we cry out. Jodi talks about the refining process we go through when we’re letting Jesus into our lives:

Do you want the fix instead of the follow?Do you want to be repaired, but not ruled?Do you want to be saved, but not instructed?Do you want to be liberated but not surrender to His leadership?

Are any of these pits preventing you from living free?

Living by the Spirit

Chew on this passage Paul wrote in Galatians 3:2-3 (AMP):

2 This is all I want to ask of you: did you receive the [Holy] Spirit as the result of obeying [the requirements of] the Law, or was it the result of hearing [the message of salvation and] with faith [believing it]?3 Are you so foolish and senseless? Having begun [your new life by faith] with the Spirit, are you now being perfected and reaching spiritual maturity by the flesh [that is, by your own works and efforts to keep the Law]?

Once God has saved us and gotten us back on the road, our flesh wants to take the steering wheel back. What relationships/situations are you struggling to let God lead?

Commitment vs. Surrender

Jodi talks about the differences between commitment and surrender. With commitment, we say things like, “I’ll never do that again…say that again, eat that again, drink that again, watch that again…I promise…”

Surrender is, “Lord, I’m here again, I’ll follow you each moment today as You give me grace. I’m just going to surrender my day and trust You with my life every step of the way, today. I will be sensitive to your Holy Spirit as He leads me to do the right thing, today. I will hide your Word in my heart, so that it can speak to me right in middle of tough decisions today. I will listen well, today. I will rely on your strength, your peace, and your grace, today…lead me, show me, guide me…”

Surrender is still a commitment, but it's a relational commitment. It's about letting God into our lives.

What actions do you take to invite God into your life daily?

READ. PRAY. DO.

READ

Explore what Paul says about ordinary living, using our gifts, and living for God.

PRAY

Pray this prayer on your own, or use it to kickstart your own personal prayer time.

Lord, I thank you for coming for us, loving us, for sending your son, Jesus, for us. I thank you for pulling me up out of the muck. I pray that I have the courage to let go and let you lead. Thank you for your grace that allows me to live free! Lead me to do the right thing today and be sensitive to your Holy Spirit.

DO

Mission is moving soon! When we get there, there will likely be a rush of interest from new people - and that means we have a huge opportunity to help people stick around!

Connection with others is what makes people feel at home. It’s not the coffee, the message, the music, or the comfy seats - it’s the people.

So for the next few weeks, we are going to stretch ourselves!

Introduce yourself to someone new at church next week.

I.e. Hey! My name is ___ we haven’t met before!! Have you been around Mission long? Or are you new? *Try to look for someone who is like you in some way that you can picture getting to know better.